An Interview with Kole Kealey
Kole Kealey is a poet renowned for her brave and vulnerable explorations of the human experience. Her second poetry collection, Sunflowers Sting, continues the powerful narrative established in her debut, Perfume and Cigarettes, by navigating the complex terrain of trauma, mental illness, and the path to self-acceptance.
Kole’s work doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects like sexual abuse, depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and eating disorders, instead illuminating a journey from withering to awakening, transforming, and ultimately, finding lingering echoes of hope. She writes to challenge the facade of forced happiness and to encourage readers to embrace their past as a foundational step toward freedom and healing.
When she isn’t writing, Kole can be found reading the newest poetry books, biking the many trails central Iowa has to offer, or enjoying local live music with her partner. Kole is an internationally published boudoir model and can occasionally be found modeling for her next magazine publication.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
The title of my book, Sunflowers Sting, was conceived in 2021, even before I began writing the collection. It’s a deeply personal title, born from my affection for sunflowers—my favorite flower—and the name of my service dog at the time, Sting.
While the title came first, its connection to the poems evolved over time. As I approached the end of the collection in early 2025, the perfect way to weave it in became clear. The book’s four sections mirror the life cycle of a sunflower, which in turn, reflects the journey of my own mental health:
Withering: Represents winter and depression.
Awakening: Symbolizes spring and a hesitant happiness.
Transforming: Aligns with summer and joy.
Lingering Echoes: Corresponds to fall, signifying an appreciation for a full range of emotions while anticipating future challenges.
The poem “Sunflowers Sting” was the final piece I wrote for the collection. It serves as a vital bridge, connecting the title not only to the entire work but also to each of the four distinct sections.
Describe your dream book cover.
My dream book cover is already a reality and the current cover of my manuscript! It features a striking close-up, black and white image of my snake, Hades, as he moves toward my face while in my hand.
This image is incredibly symbolic, representing the intertwined nature of beauty and pain, a theme that directly connects to my book’s title, Sunflowers Sting. As an internationally published boudoir model, I have also incorporated other carefully selected images from a handful of photoshoots throughout the poems in the collection, further weaving my personal story into the fabric of the book.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I have led a diverse life. I am a true lifelong student, having started college at the age of twelve. At seventeen, I joined the military as a linguist, becoming proficient in several Middle Eastern languages, two of which—Farsi and Dari—I still speak fluently. My seven years of military service saw me earn a second degree in Persian-Farsi and Middle Eastern Studies and led to my medical retirement in 2021. I then pursued and received my third degree in accounting in 2023, all while simultaneously working as a live audio engineer for local bands and venues.
Something else my readers might not know about me is my love for adrenaline. I am an adrenaline junkie and I love skydiving!
Where is your favorite place to write?
I actually don’t have a favorite place to write! All my poems start in the notes app on my phone. I always have my phone with me, and whenever inspiration strikes, whether it’s a phrase I hear someone say or an expression on someone’s face, I take out my phone and write down a key word or an emotion that I want to further explore when I have the opportunity. Sunflowers Sting was written entirely on my phone as my best inspiration comes from anywhere but the comfort of my home.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
If there is anything that sticks with my readers, it’s this: never, ever let anyone make you feel less than. Your worth is inherent, not something to be granted or taken away by another. If a person, a place, or even an old version of your life no longer fits who you are becoming, know that you have the profound power to walk away and start over. It’s not abandonment; it’s growth. It’s reclaiming your narrative.
Most importantly, please, always love yourself fiercely. You are a magnificent tapestry, woven from countless experiences, from the people who have touched your life, and from the very fabric of the world around you. Every laugh, every tear, every lesson learned—they are all threads in your unique and beautiful design. And while these elements contribute to who you are, remember that you hold the ultimate power to change the people or the things that make you, you, choosing only those that lift you higher and light your way forward.
Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.
Atmosphere Press is a selective hybrid publisher founded in 2015 on the principles of Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Our books have won dozens of awards and sold tens of thousands of copies. If you’re interested in learning more, or seeking publication for your own work, please explore the links below.
